The High Court on Wednesday upheld the Dhaka district magistrate’s decision that had declared Syed Mohayeman Boksha Kallal as the daily Amader Shomoy’s publisher, removing its founding editor and publisher Nayeemul Islam Khan.
The three-member special bench of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam, Justice Naima Haider and Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam
pronounced the verdict after hearing the rule that another bench issued on January 16 to explain the legality of declaring SM Boksha the publisher of the daily.
After hearing a writ petition filed by Nayeemul Islam Khan challenging the legality of his removal, the bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury and Justice Jahangir Hossain on January 16 stayed the magistrate’s decision on 28 September, 2011 and issued the rule.
Nayeemul Islam was printing the daily in his name after the stay order.
Nayeemul had been publishing the newspaper, which became popular as it costs Tk 2 only, since the beginning. He was removed as publisher following the magistrate’s decision, and an acting editor was appointed the same day.
The newspaper is now being edited by Mozammel Hossain.
Additional attorney general MK Rahman, who represented the district magistrate, told reporters that Nayeemul Islam Khan would no longer participate in the publication, ownership and editing of Amader Shomoy in line with the High Court’s verdict.
Nayeemul’s counsel Akhtar Iman said that they would appeal to the Appellate Division against the High Court’s judgement after getting a copy of the verdict.
Nayeemul said he was ‘very disappointed’ at the High Court’s verdict. He told reporters that the legal battle to ‘establish his right’ would continue.
-With New Age input
